No Tricks, Just Treats

I have a few treats to share with you, as well as the latest update on our preparations for the big Flea Market next week...

First off, if you need a little sweet treat of non-scary trick-or-treat graphics for last minute crafty projects, take a look at my "No Tricks, Just Treats" clipart kit...

For just $4.99, you get 30 cute sticker-doodle graphics...

...plus 5 background papers and a bonus mini-poster with Scripture...

...just perfect for embellishing goodie bags, creating cupcake toppers, or whatever your crafty mind can cook up!

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I have another "treat" available for you early this year so you can get a jump on your Christmas shopping. I've made my two original Scripture art calendars available for 2011 in my Cafe Press shop. I'm sure my friends and family are saying, "oh dear, THOSE again?" but there may be new readers who have not seen these yet...

This is the cover of the "My Cup Runneth Over" calendar...

(ignore the fact that the cover image says "2010" in the upper left corner - I still don't have my graphics computer back, so I don't have access to the updated 2011 cover image)

Click here to order "My Cup Runneth Over"

And here's the "Wisdom & Whimsy" calendar cover...

Click here to order "Wisdom & Whimsy"

If you follow the above links, you will be able to see all the designs for each calendar on the page. And as always, I have made all 24 designs from both calendars available on notecards which you can see here and here...

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Well, it's six day and counting until our debut at Larry's Old Time Trade Days in Winnie! Things are shaping up very well, but I always wish we had just a bit more time. I'm sorry I don 't have photos to share with you yet of the progress, but I had a SECOND computer go down sometime after I had loaded the latest photos (I deleted them from the camera's memory too). Fortunately, we were able to save the computer, but we had to reimage the whole thing to do it and we lost all the files on it. But, it's not as bad as it sounds - it is a fairly new computer and did not have much on it yet. But, the photos are gone forever...  But I have excellent news on my old workhorse art computer that went down a week or so ago - my brother says the data on the 2 hard drives is all in tact! (that's ALL my art files and photos to date...whew!) The problem turned out to be the power supply which he is replacing this weekend if possible. After final testing we will know for sure if the computer will be back 100%, but it's looking VERY good at this point! (Yay God!) What a relief!

I'll try to post an update before we start packing up the trailer on Wednesday, but if I don't, you'll know I'm just swamped with preparations. I plan to document the entire process of packing, setting up, displaying and working the Flea Market to share with you in case some of you are contemplating selling at such a market or show in the future. Maybe you'll be able to learn from what are sure to be our mistakes, as well as successes, along the way...

I hope you have a safe, fun weekend with your family and friends! Hugs, y'all!!

Crunch Time

Yep, it's crunch time all right. It's less than two weeks until our show at Larry's Old Time Trade Days in Winnie, Texas. I've consumed every can of Rustoleum Heirloom White in 3 counties, I've burnt every finger on both hands with the glue gun, and I've breathed enough E-6000 fumes to kill what precious few brain cells I have left. Although I may have used just a touch of hyperbole on that last sentence, I have truly been working hard to complete projects for the show...

Alas, I've not taken any photos of the chaos progress...I'm afraid I'll accidentally spray paint my camera and glue it artfully onto a wreath! No, you'll just have to imagine all the glorious goodness we've been cranking out for now until I sound the "All Clear" and allow cameras into the war zone studio again...

On top of everything, my dedicated art computer (the one with ALL my art files and photos and all my art programs) went kaput earlier this week. My dear brother is going to look at it this weekend and see if he can revive it...fingers crossed and praying!

But since Just Bee 'n Me editorial standards forbid blog posts without pictures, here are a few old random, unrelated Just Bee 'n Me images from Picasa Web (since my old hard drive is awaiting surgery)... Enjoy!

That's probably an appropriate place to stop for now. I've got to head back out to the trenches...I think I just might have one more can of Heirloom White and a few brain cells left...just imagine what I might create!

Love Y'all!

How Far Will $20 Go?

(click any image to enlarge)

Last week we hit a nearby yard/rummage sale put on by a couple who were former Round Top sellers...they are getting out of the junk business and were pretty serious about liquidating their massive stash. Don't you just love the sound of those words!  :o)

So here's what a single $20 bill bought us that day (the above photo is only about a third of it!!)

LOVE these cute shutters with the red fabric - there are 2 complete sets with 8 sections total.

I was instantly smitten with the wire lampshade form covered with lace...here's a closeup of the rusty metal form, ornamental clips and lace...

I always need glass candlesticks for making cupcake platters...the wooden box they were in was thrown in with them...

You can never go wrong with milk glass...

...or chippy wood finials...love the chippy drawer they came in too...

...crusty metal candle holder...I'll repurpose it into something...not sure what just yet...

There were three of these cute ceramic collector ornaments - I have quite a few vintage and other ornaments gathered for the upcoming sale so these will fit right in. There was also a pile of these green grape cluster ornaments...I'll do something with them...

All of the above piles were just a third of the $20 haul - the next several photos are primarily laces and trims that were piled into a big plastic bin...there was also a pretty glass lamp and vintage framed photo in the box...

 ...yards and yards of this stuff...I love it!

Here's a closeup of the lamp - I am a sucker for lamps, I admit it...

Unfortunately I don't have a photo of the final third of this $20 haul, but it was a huge shopping bag stuffed with hand crocheted doilies and embroidered linens! Fun!! My sweet Mom is washing and ironing it all...thanks Mom!!

It was definitely a stellar "pick" as Mike and Frank would say...

So, are you planning on doing some picking this weekend...?

This is one of my favorite fun Scriptures in Proverbs - now tell me this isn't true...

"The shopper says, '"That's junk—I'll take it off your hands,"' then goes off boasting of the bargain."

Proverbs 20:14 (The Message)

Too true. Ain't the junk business grand? Have a great weekend!

My Sweetie's Birthday Extravaganza

Although his birthday is actually tomorrow, we are kicking off his three day birthday extravaganza today. I have a very special dinner planned at an undisclosed location for early this evening, and afterward we are going to the Night with the Chapmans (as in Steven Curtis Chapman) concert in Houston. Then tomorrow a birthday breakfast with my folks then we are headed towards Beaumont where we will attend yet another Christian concert...this time it's Third Day, Toby Mac, Michael W. Smith and Max Lucado all together in the Make a Difference Tour. Whew...a whirlwind of Christian music... we can't wait! In between, we are staying with our dear friends in the Mont Bellvue area, which is always a treat, then Saturday, we'll be back in Beaumont to visit with my nephew and his new bride and my brother and sister-in-law! Family, friends, and awesome music - a wonderful birthday indeed!

Happy Birthday Sweet Baby!!

"Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex

Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,

as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

You saw me before I was born.

Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed"

Psalm 139:14-16

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More photos of projects for the big Flea Market plus photos from my unbelievable $20 haul from a monster rummage sale are coming up when we return! Stay tuned dear friends...

Enjoy Today!

Start your day with a song...

Play as if you were a kid again....

Never lose your sense of wonder...

...and sleep well tonight knowing that you are loved.

Have a glorious day in Him!

"This is the day the Lord has made.We will rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 118:24